Cystinosis is a
very rare autosomal recessive disease, a lysosomal storage disorder. It
is characterised by raised intracellular levels of cystine which has major
systemic effects.

Cystinosis
Ireland, CRN and Cystinosis Foundation UK support those living with cystinosis
and their families. They are volunteer organisations that also raise
significant money to fund research into cystinosis all over the world.
Cystinosis Ireland (a registered charity in Ireland) also partners with the
Health Research Board, the Irish Government medical scientific funding body,
in Joint Funding Schemes.

The close connections between the cystinosis
organisations have enabled past funding collaborations as well as strong
family supports internationally. A rare disease knows no borders and no
matter where cystinosis research takes place, it benefits patients all over
the world.

The first Seedcorn Funding initiative aims to provide
researchers with the opportunity to generate solid preliminary data which
would contribute to a sustainable, longer-term application for funding either
with Cystinosis Ireland and/or our sister organisations, or indeed, any
external funding body.

Funding will be available to institutions in Ireland and
worldwide. Principal Investigators do not need a track record in
cystinosis research and applications from researchers new to the field are
welcomed. Research can be in any area of cystinosis such as, but not
confined to, basic research, psycho-social issues, literature review, small
travel grants for current researchers to set up or develop further
collaborations with established cystinosis labs, new treatments, experiments,
summer projects for undergraduate students, etc.